Warriors lean on talent, experience for region run

High School football is back. The White County Warriors kick off the 2021 season Friday night with a trip to Toccoa to take on the Stephens County Indians.

The Warriors head into the season with high expectations, including chasing the program's first region championship and making another trip to the Class AAA playoffs.

The Warriors lost some big pieces off a team that posted a 7-3 record last fall and earned a spot in the state playoffs, but there's enough talent and experience on the roster to make WCHS head coach Tim Cokely believe good things are on the horizon.

“We really like this team; we like where we are heading into the season,” Cokely said. “We're excited. We've got some players on offense and a lot of guys back on defense, so we feel good about this team.”

Statewide, the excitement of the starting the season has been tempered a bit by a rise in Covid-19 cases. A handful of opening week games have been cancelled or postponed, but the Georgia High School Association plans to start the season with a “business as usual” approach.

GHSA executive director Dr. Robin Hines announced last week that football, and all fall sports, with move forward without restrictions. In a press release, Hines said “local school systems will set the guidelines for the regular season contest and activities, and all GHSA events will be free of attendance restrictions.” Sports specific considerations and rule modifications will be evaluated and adjusted as needed by each sport administrator. Hines also said recommendations and restrictions are “fluid and subject to change depending on changes in Covid data.”

Cokely said he's hopeful the pandemic won't effect the season.

“We thought it was going to be gone,” Cokely said. “I was really proud to be at White County last year, because there were a lot of tough decisions to make. Last year, our administration made the decision to allow fans at the game and, fortunately, we were able to play our whole season. We really want our fans to come out this year and support our team. To me, it's completely different this year. There is a choice this year. The choice to go home if you aren't feeling well, the choice to get vaccinated if you want to. Last year, we had no control over anything. This year, we feel like we've got a little bit more control.”

The Warriors finished off the pre-season work with a scrimmage last Friday against East Forsyth.

The Warriors rolled over the first-year Broncos, posting a 34-0 lead at halftime. East Forsyth is a first-year school with no seniors, and will play a non-region schedule this fall.

Cokely said getting on the field for some game-like competition was good for his team as they move closer to the regular season.

“When you play a scrimmage game, I just want to go home healthy,” Cokely said. “We certainly had some pre-snap penalties that uncharacteristic of our team. There were some new guys out there so that's expected I guess. I think we'll be able to throw it and catch it well. Our guys can get open and that levels the playing field. I think we saw that our team speed defensively is better, I think there's a significant improvement in how well we run to the ball, that's been a bright spot.”

Region

When Cokely took the job several years ago, the Warriors were in a region with Marist, Blessed Trinity, Denmark and Flowery Branch. Things changed last year when WCHS moved down to Class AAA, and the race for the 7-AAA title seems to be pretty wide open heading into the 20201 season. Cherokee Bluff claimed the championship last year, but lost a larger senior class. North Hall might be the preseason favorite as they return a large chunk of the team, and Cokely sees his team fitting into the mix to the region crown.

“I watched North Hall play, and they are a good team,” Cokely said. I've watched some highlights of  Cherokee Bluff, but I'll always pick us. I picked us last year and I'll pick us next year. We're ready to win it, but it's really about at what point do you have injuries. Everybody has injuries. Who gets injured? That's the key. The season has ebbs and flows, and we have a region now that doesn't have three or four dominant teams and the rest of us. Now it's three or four teams that can all vie for the top spot. I think this team has a long life, depending on avoiding injuries.”.